[Amps] bad electrolytic capacitors

["John T. M. Lyles" <jtml@lanl.gov>]

Heard about this on the AM forum:
In the conservative news forum free republic:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/849190/posts

The conmpanies mentioned included Teapo Electronic Corp, Jackcpn 
Capacitor Electronics Co. Lelon Electronics Corp, and Luxon 
Electronics. None of which I have ever seen in the larger varieties 
of capacitors which might be used in a typical voltage multiplier SSB 
low duty factor HV power supply.

Referenced in the article is an IEEE Spectrum article from last 
February, abstract shown below:

> Leaking capacitors muck up motherboards
> Yu-Tzu, Chiu; Moore, S.K.
> keywords:	Aluminum; Electrolytic capacitors; Printed circuits; 
> Failure analysis; Microcomputers; Al electrolytic capacitors; 
> Motherboard failures; Desktop PCs; Low equivalent series resistance; 
> ABIT Computer Corporation; Faulty electrolyte; Burst capacitors; 
> Intellectual property theft

Abstract (English):	Aluminum electrolytic capacitors with a low 
equivalent series resistance (ESR) are high-capacitance components 
that generally serve to smooth out the power supply to chips. 
Throughout 2002, they have been breaking open and failing in certain 
desktop PCs. So far, the only motherboard maker to admit to the 
problem is ABIT Computer Corp. (Taipei), and the only major PC maker 
to acknowledge being affected is IBM Corp. But the problem is likely 
to be more widespread. It is clear now that a faulty electrolyte is 
to blame for the burst capacitors. Apparently, a scientist stole the 
formula for an electrolyte from his employer in Japan and began using 
it himself at the Chinese branch of a Taiwanese electrolyte 
manufacturer. He or his colleagues then sold the formula to an 
electrolyte maker in Taiwan, which began producing it for Taiwanese 
and possibly other capacitor firms. Unfortunately, the formula as 
sold was incomplete.
Publisher:	IEEE

73
John
K5PRO
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